ISLAMABAD : The National Assembly on Tuesday approved the Anti-Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill, re-establishing the authority for law enforcement agencies to detain suspects for up to 90 days.
The move revives a provision that previously allowed for such detention but had lapsed due to a sunset clause.
The bill, introduced by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, aims to amend the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997, emphasizing the need for a stronger legal framework to address current security challenges. The legislation, known as the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to empower authorities with the legal backing to detain individuals based on credible intelligence or reasonable suspicion to prevent terrorist activities.
During the proceedings, JUI-F lawmaker Aliya Kamran proposed a separate amendment to send the bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). However, her proposal garnered support from only 41 members and was ultimately rejected by the majority, prompting JUI-F lawmakers to stage a walkout in protest.
The bill was passed through a clause-by-clause reading after a motion to consider it was approved with 125 votes in favor and 59 against. The statement accompanying the bill highlighted the urgent need for robust legal measures to counteract terrorism effectively, especially given the current security environment.
The legislation aims to re-insert Section 11EEEE of the Act, enabling the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces to detain individuals posing significant threats to national security. This provision allows authorities to conduct preventive detention and disrupt terrorist plots before they materialize. It also facilitates the operation of Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs), composed of members from various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, to gather critical intelligence.
Opposition parties voiced strong resistance. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other critics criticized the bill, with PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan calling it a violation of constitutional rights. Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of JUI-F, labeled the law as “discriminatory” and questioned why terrorism had not been eradicated despite 25 years of efforts.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the legislation, asserting that the government has the constitutional authority to legislate for public order and security. He emphasized that any individual detained under the law would be presented before a court within 24 hours, and that the constitutional limit of 90 days for preventive detention remains intact, with judicial review mechanisms in place.
PPP member Syed Naveed Qamar also addressed the assembly, warning against potential misuse of the legislation. He assured that the government would take action only where credible evidence of terrorism exists, and that some provisions had been modified to prevent abuse.In addition to the ATA amendment, the National Assembly passed two other bills: the National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025. These were moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz, respectively, following recommendations from the relevant standing committees
